Orlando Pirates clash with Stellenbosch FC in the final of the 2024 MTN8 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, hoping to claim a record third successive title.
It will be no easy feat against ambitious Stellenbosch, who have shown their quality in twice beating all-conquering Mamelodi Sundowns in this year’s competition.
Here is the Road to the Final for both sides...
ORLANDO PIRATES
QUARTERFINALS
Orlando Pirates (1) [1] 3 (Ndah 44’, Saleng 92’, Makgopa 107’)
SuperSport United (0) [1] 1 (Pule 49’)
After extra time
Pirates faced a tough quarterfinal against tricky SuperSport United but eventually triumphed in extra time.
Nigerian centre-back Olisa Ndah scored his first goal for the club to give them the lead just before halftime, but former winger Vincent Pule equalised for SuperSport, just weeks after his move from The Buccaneers.
In four days, @orlandopirates will aim to become the first team to win the #MTN8 three times in a row.
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) October 1, 2024
Here’s their road to the final 👇 pic.twitter.com/XvRHmdFfHP
That took the game to extra time, but a man who loves the MTN8, Monnapule Saleng, put Pirates back in front two minutes into the additional 30, before Evidence Makgopa made sure of the result with a third.
SEMIFINALS, FIRST LEG
Cape Town City (0) 1 (Rhodes 61’)
Orlando Pirates (1) 1 (Mofokeng 15’)
A pulsating first leg of the semifinals at the Cape Town Stadium saw teenager Relebohile Mofokeng put Pirates ahead in the first half, before they had to weather some intense pressure from their hosts.
Cape Town City found the equaliser just past the hour-mark when Jaedin Rhodes’ shot was deflected in for what was just about the right score on the night.
City did also hit the woodwork and had double the number of shots on target compared to Pirates.
SEMIFINALS, SECOND LEG
Orlando Pirates (2) 2 (Mabasa 25’, Hotto 43’)
Cape Town City 0
Pirates won 3-1 on aggregate
Back at the Orlando Stadium, it was a different story as Pirates dominated the contest and took charge in the first half with two goals.
Tshegofatso Mabasa put them ahead on 25 minutes after being teed-up by Mofokeng, before Deon Hotto scored a superb free-kick to settle the nerves of the home faithful and put the result beyond the visitors.
It also kept up Pirates’ excellent record in MTN8 semifinals, they have won 10 of their 14 last-four ties and each of their last six.
STELLENBOSCH FC
QUARTERFINALS
Stellenbosch FC (2) 3 (Adams 25’, De Jong 40’, Basadien 57’)
TS Galaxy (1) 1 (Sebelebele 18’)
TS Galaxy arrived in the Cape Winelands with a depleted squad having been unable to register their new players due to a Fifa ban but gave the more fancied Stellenbosch a scare.
The visitors took the lead thanks to a fine individual goal from the lively Kamogelo Sebelebele, but that joy lasted only seven minutes.
Jayden Adams equalised for the hosts before Andre de Jong, who was a threat throughout, put the home side ahead.
There was only one team in it after that as Stellenbosch created chance after chance, and confirmed the win when the excellent Fawaaz Basadien added a third.
SEMIFINALS, FIRST LEG
Mamelodi Sundowns 0
Stellenbosch FC (0) 1 (Basadien 62’pen)
Stellenbosch edged this first leg thanks to a lone penalty from Basadien as he kept his cool from 12 yards to beat Jody February in the Sundowns goal.
It was a tight contest in which Stellenbosch had to defend manfully and were handed a scare when Sundowns struck the woodwork, but they held on for victory in the face of the onslaught.
It would have been a huge boost in confidence against what was effectively Sundowns’ first-choice side, bar injured goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and Themba Zwane, who came off the bench.
SEMIFINALS, SECOND LEG
Stellenbosch FC (0) 1 (Mojela 49’)
Mamelodi Sundowns 0
Stellenbosch won 2-0 on aggregate
There are not many sides that keep Sundowns scoreless over 180 minutes, but Stellenbosch showed that while they are an excellent attacking side, they have great defensive structure too.
The match was played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium with Stellenbosch unable to secure a venue in the Cape, and that will give them a familiar feel going into Saturday’s decider.
Lehlohonolo Mojela has made a fast start to life at Stellenbosch after a move from TS Galaxy and got the only goal of this game early in the second half. He now has five goals in seven starts in all competitions this season and will be a danger for Pirates.